James 2:17 (NLT)
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
“If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream.” (page 95)
Mere miles from Refuge flows one of the most awesome forces on the planet- the Mississippi River. Since moving here a decade ago, I’ve loitered under its bridge writing and drinking, stared mesmerized into its unrestrained power, and heard countless stories revolving around its banks. Some of the more fascinating ones involve people attempting to swim across. Anyone brave (or stupid) enough to do so will tell you a couple of things. First, no one swims directly across. The raw force of the current will take you down river no matter how strong a swimmer you are. That being said, number two is that it is possible to cross the river if you persist and never give up. And third, if you do lose heart and give up, you will drown and die. Plain and simple.
In remembering these stories, their significance to us spiritually is even more profound. No matter how strong our faith in Jesus is, it must be reinforced by our actions. We must “swim” with everything we have, understanding that it won’t be an easy, straightforward crossing, but a manageable one nonetheless. We must endure being swept away and jostled by the current and whirlpools of life. We must never lose sight of the opposite bank (the eternal life) and continue chugging away until we reach it, having spent every ounce of energy we possess. If at any point, we take our eyes off of Jesus, throw our cross down, or find the struggle too difficult, we will be pulled backwards. And downstream. Lost among the churning waters and further and further away from GOD.
The other side awaits. Press on-
Author’s Note: for more on this topic, read pages 90-95 of Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Danae Yankoski
